Leicester edge up to second with draw at Crystal Palace

Leicester’s Harvey Barnes, left, and Crystal Palace’s Nathaniel Clyne during their English Premier League match at Selhurst Park stadium in London Monday. (AP)
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Updated 29 December 2020
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Leicester edge up to second with draw at Crystal Palace

  • Palace conceded 10 goals without reply in their last 2 games to Liverpool and Aston Villa

LONDON: A much-changed Leicester moved up to second in the Premier League thanks to Harvey Barnes’ late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Wilfried Zaha’s stunning near post volley put the Eagles in front against the run of play after Kelechi Iheanacho had a first half penalty saved for Leicester.

With little over 48 hours rest between the Foxes’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Saturday and the trip to Selhurst Park, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers made seven changes with Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans among those left on the bench.

Both were introduced midway through the second half and Leicester’s pressure was rewarded with an equalizer when Barnes fired in a low shot from the edge of the box for his eighth goal of the season.

Despite the upheaval of missing many of their star names, Leicester were still the better side and will rue not taking their chances before the break as they missed out on closing the gap to Liverpool at the top of the table to just one point.

Iheanacho was given a rare start with 33-year-old Vardy rested, but the Nigerian did little to further his case for more game time.

James Tomkins brought down Foxes defender Luke Thomas inside the area on 19 minutes and with Vardy and Tielemans not on the pitch, Iheanacho took responsibility from the spot.

However, the former Manchester City striker remains without a Premier League goal this season as he was unable to beat Vicente Guaita who produced a fine save to his left.

Dennis Praet also blazed a glorious chance over after Ayoze Perez’s deflected cross came back off the crossbar.

Palace had conceded 10 goals without reply in their last two games to Liverpool and Aston Villa.

But Roy Hodgson’s men started the second half with much better intent and got their reward in the 58th minute when Zaha fired them ahead.

Andros Townsend’s cross to the back post picked out the Ivorian, who connected sweetly on the volley to beat Kasper Schmeichel at his near post.

Vardy was summoned from the bench to find the Foxes a route back into the game, but instead it was the in-form Barnes who scored an excellent equalizer as he wriggled clear of a number of Palace challenges before firing into the bottom corner.

Leicester could have gone on to win the game in the final stages as Perez blazed over a good chance from the edge of the box.

But a point at least ensures they will end the year in the top four.


Arsenal hoist first Women’s Champions Cup in thrilling win over Corinthians

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Arsenal hoist first Women’s Champions Cup in thrilling win over Corinthians

  • Foord beat goalkeeper Lele at her near post ‌in the ‌104th minute to earn a ‌dramatic ⁠winner ​over the ‌Copa Libertadores champions in front of a crowd that included FIFA president Gianni Infantino
  • As the winners of FIFA’s new intercontinental tournament featuring champions from all six confederations, ​Arsenal will collect a $2.3 million prize

LONDON: Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord struck in extra time to power them to victory in the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup on Sunday, defeating Brazil’s Corinthians 3-2 in ​a rain-soaked final at the Emirates Stadium.

Reigning Champions League winners Arsenal looked set to seal the title in normal time, leading 2-1 before Vic Albuquerque converted a 96th-minute penalty to force extra time.

Olivia Smith and Lotte Wubben-Moy also scored for Renee Slegers’ team before Foord beat goalkeeper Lele at her near post ‌in the ‌104th minute to earn a ‌dramatic ⁠winner ​over the ‌Copa Libertadores champions in front of a crowd that included FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“It’s not often that at Arsenal you can write history because history has been written so many times,” Wubben-Moy told Sky Sports.

“We stand on the shoulders of giants. To come to this inaugural competition ⁠and win it and do it with all of our fans ‌here in style — — our fans are ‍wonderful and that’s who we ‍do it for.

“To win the first silverware this ‍year is a big leap forward. We want more. Stick with us, 2026 has more to come.”

As the winners of FIFA’s new intercontinental tournament featuring champions from all six confederations, ​Arsenal will collect a $2.3 million prize.

The one negative on the night was Arsenal’s goalkeeper Anneke Borbe ⁠being carried off on a stretcher following a collision with teammate Wubben-Moy late in extra time.

The timing of the tournament favored Arsenal, who are in the midst of their Women’s Super League season, while Corinthians are in their pre-season and CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Gotham FC are in their off-season.

Arsenal had thrashed Moroccan champions AS FAR 6-0 in Wednesday’s semifinals, while Corinthians had edged Gotham, of the National Women’s Soccer League, 1-0 in the ‌other semis.

Gotham secured third place with a 4-0 win against AS FAR earlier on Sunday.